Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating Activities
Net loss for the period	$ (9,257,216)	$ (6,017,619)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and depletion	4,081,828	21,997
Amortization of debt discount and interest accrual	4,071,537	2,863,396
Accretion expense	45,059	0
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities (Note 9)	1,951,581	(1,868,329)
Stock based compensation	11,396	155,203
Foreign exchange gain	(273,470)	(839,849)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	151,539
Non-cash consulting expense (Note 7(i))	0	151,428
Closing fee related to long-term debt	0	1,500,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(17,866)	24,105
Prepaid expenses & other current assets	171,597	(108,180)
Inventory	(7,325,771)	(182,865)
Accounts payable & accrued liabilities	3,454,289	285,272
Interest payable	(18,043)	(951,445)
Cash used in operating activities	(3,105,079)	(4,815,347)
Investment activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and mineral interests	(11,400,873)	(59,812,875)
Release (purchase) of reclamation financial assurance deposit	902,382	(349,053)
Cash used in investing activities	(10,498,491)	(60,161,928)
Financing activities:
Issuance of common shares and warrants, net of share issue costs (Note 4)	10,907,840	0
Repayments of loans payable	(3,736,162)	(2,500,000)
Investment in Golden Queen Mining Company LLC by non-controlling interest	0	12,500,000
Borrowing under long-term debt	0	25,000,000
Repayment of convertible debentures	0	(7,675,000)
Financing fees related to short-term debt	0	(1,500,000)
Financing fees related to short-term debt capitalized to the loan	0	(250,000)
Cash provided by financing activities	7,171,678	25,575,000
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(6,431,892)	(39,402,275)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning balance	37,587,311	91,407,644
Cash and cash equivalents, ending balance	$ 31,155,419	$ 52,005,369